Monday, 9 September 2013

Hello,The jaws of my fly tying vise are nearly worn out again and the innovation and creation process is taking its toll mainly on my back.So here is a tip if like me, you spend a long time at the vice or laptop: get the best seat you can and a Tempur back support, which will help you sit more upright - if you are a slouch like me.

STU'S SEPTEMBER GUIDING AND CASTING LESSONS

The guiding and NZ Fly Fishing Schools days have already started for me and with the mild weather plenty fun has been had and improved casting skills.It has been interesting stalking the edges of the local lake and sight casting Deadly Minnows in front of cruising trout. Some of them have come from over 15ft in the clear water to intercept the fly.Dates are filling fast for the season so if you are interested in polishing up your skills or just a fun day on the water drop me a line.

For the first time in the 8 years since the Rise Fly Fishing Film Festival has toured, I have at last managed with the help of Ela to be able to tour with it on the North Island and maybe some of the Southland dates. It would also have been great to tour with it in Australia, but the pennies will not stretch that far - bugger! Maybe next year.The short fly fishing films that will be shown are: "Only The River Knows", "Jungle Fish", "Blackwater Devil's Gold" and the big first time showing of Nick's new film Leviathan - which is also the featured film. Going along to any of the shows is a great way to support the film makers, sponsors and in general fly fishing as a whole.

PROUD SPONSOR & SUPPORTER

As a proud sponsor of the Rise Festival I am allowed to display my flies at the shows.So it is all go here getting ready to set up my little table with a display of my fly designs for all to see and also to hopefully meet many old and new friends. I will be sending Ela back in Athol some photos of the shows and feedback which she will post here and on the Stu's Fly Shop Facebook page.

Welcome to the Rise Fly Fishing Film Festival. It is hard for me to believe that we are in our eighth consecutive year. What started life as an obscure concept has developed into one of the premier events on the fly fishing calendar.As a pastime, fly fishing encourages isolation. Lets face it, if there were two hundred fly fishers on your local stream, you would hardly be rushing down to meet them! The festival gives us a rare opportunity to meet en masse in a social setting, exchange ideas and maybe even trade a few secret spots. To date as many as three fly fishing clubs have had their genesis after members met a Rise.

Watch the trailer

AUCKLAND - RISE FLY FISHING FILM FESTIVAL - REPORT

Before knowing what was going on, I was off the plane and into the smallest cheapest rental car Ela could find (not really my choice). It is like driving a mouse on wheels after my Landcruiser.

Found my bed in the dorm of the city backpackers with a good strong whiff of curry in the room.

Paid for the city parking that was more than the accommodation for the night and realized I was not in Athol any more.

Found the cinema and set up my table next to the Rise Festival Stall, whilst eating a big burger called - the Bastard.

The ultimate burger?

People came streaming in to the cinema and it was great to have a quick chat with old and new customers.

There was the captain of the NZ fly fishing team, TV celebrity fishermen from the NZ TV shows and plenty keen others. It was nearly a full house.

Thank you Auckland, it was a great night!

During the film I sat down the front and it brought a great big smile to my face hearing all the gasps of disbelief and laughs of everybody as they enjoyed film after film on the big screen.

After the showing of Nicks feature film - LEVIATHAN, I could here a constant murmur in the room - that was a great movie!

The thoughts of those attending must have been: "That's it, I am going fishing and I'm pumped".TAUPO - RISE FLY FISHING FILM FESTIVAL - REPORT

The sign said $15 bucks for the night in the car park in Auckland a bit on the steep side - though I was near to the backpackers and cinema.Inserting my car parking ticket into the machine 5 times and it still said $60, it was not long before it was pointed out the small print on the bottom of the sign! Smart buggers!A little bit lighter in the wallet and now even more keen to leave the big smoke the super small rental car was now on it's way to Taupo.Taupo is another wee cool town and with a fishy feel to it and fish images all around. The cinema was in the center and another great location, tables were scrounged from the ever helpful staff and the Superior Flies display table was organized and also the RISE ticket & DVD sales table.

Thank you Taupo!

There was also some other great special sponsors here, as all the profits from tonight's films would be going to help Dave and his awesome gang of young recruits who arecommittedriver-keepers of the area. It's so good to meet river warriors and the folks that do their best to assist them.

It was nearly a full house and everyone loved the films. Many I asked said the films and the quality of the films were the best they had ever seen.

The RISE table

There were famous guides here and lodge owners and people who did not even fish - it was another great night of fish porn.

One of the talking points of tonight's films was the first part of LEVIATHAN and just where was that location and stream? Double figure monster trout exploding in a shallow water connected to 20lb tippet!!! No finesse in this stream!

Talking to fishy Steve - a guide up here - I realized that these guides up here arefull time. That's all they do, they guide all year.

It's worth if you are ever up this way to spend at least one day out on the water with one these full time guides, even if you think you know it all.

Stu's Superior Flies table

PALMERSTON NORTH - RISE FLY FISHING FILM FESTIVAL - REPORT

The Palmerston North RISE show was another success - all that attended were happy that they did. A full bag of FREE prizes was given away, everybody was amazed about the quality of the films shown.

Thank you, Palmerston North!

Stu's Superior Flies selection

Tonight the festival arrives in Wellington - the capital of New Zealand. Hope to see you all there and remember to drag (bring) your friends along :)See you all at the Stu's Superior Flies table.Cheers, Stu